■'  UBftMRY 

\  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  !' 5  '“-‘s 


J 


\  CONSIDERATIONS 


CN  1I3E  PROPRIETY  07  ADOPTING  A 


GENERAL  TICKET 

IN 

S  OUT  H-C  A  RO  LIN  A, 

TOR  THE  ELECTION  OF 

REPRESENTATIVES  IN  CONGRESS 

AND  ELECTORS  OF 
tRESIDER  T  AND  FICE-PRESIDENT 

OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES. 


ADDRESSED  TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF 
SC  U  T  H-C  A  RO  L  I N  A, 

B  Y 

C  R  I  T  0. 

CajSLESTQK,  (South- Carolina.) 

Prints#  by  T.  B.  B  O  W  E  N» 

Ns>.  3  E3.CU3-STR3ET. 

I  ^t>' 1 

library 
OF  THE 

E.iVERSJTY  OF  aims 


“*>14,2. 


$  DEDICATION. 


c* 


* 
r I 


T  0 

Brigadier-General  ROBERT  ANDERSON. 


PERMIT  me,  unknown  and  unfalcited,  to 
cfFer  the  lollowing  pages,  n  ot  fo  much  to  your 
patronage,  as  t  )  your  ferious  attention  and 
careful  perufal.  Principles  to  dear  to  the  hip- 
pinefs  of  a  Republican  people;  to  be  adopted 
require  only  to  be  diitinflly  feen.  The  fub- 
je&  they  profefs  to  examine  and  unfold,  is 
clcfely  allied  to  tnofe  in  the  eflablifhment  of 
which,  you  have  acted  a  manly  and  diftin- 
guifhed  part. 

The  numbers  originally  appeared  in  the 
City-Gazette,  under  the  affumed  fignature 
annexed,  and  have  brought  it  with  them,  in¬ 
to  the  form  in  which  they  are  now  prefented. 
This  has  been  done,  from  a  conviction,  that 
nam  s  cannot  give  authority  to  argument,  or 
fhed  luftre  upon  truth.  Stripped  as  thev  are, 
of  all  the  boaft  and  ornament  *of  pedigree, 
and  above  the  fleeting  influences  of  perfonal 
fupport  ; — they  Rand  on  the  plain,  Republi¬ 
can  ground  of  principle,  and  claim  no  other 
p-ote&ion,  than  that  of  found,  liberal,  and 
unfophillicatea  dhcuflion, 

I  will  occupy  but  little  of  your  time  to  fay, 
that  in  preparing  thefe  few  lheets  for  the  pref3? 

I  have 


«  •  0 
111. 

I  have  been  obliged  to  employ,  broken  and  In¬ 
terrupted  intervals  from  bufmefs,  ill  fuited  to 
regular  and  elaborate  inveftigation.  Where  I 
could  have  (aid  much,  I  have  been  compelled 
to  leave  the  queftion  to  the  fullnefs  and  anti¬ 
cipation  of  the  public  mind. 

My  efforts  to  bring  forward  this  topic,  would 
never  have  furvivecl  the  ephemeral  being  of  a 
news- pa  per,  but  for  the  partiality  of  fome 
friends,  who  confidered  them,  as  containing 
demonlt rations  cf  practical  utility,  entitled  to 
the  calm  and  difpaflionate  decifion  of  the  pu¬ 
blic  jucgment.  With  this  intent,the  publication 
is  iubroitted  - — 1  hey  were  pleafed  to  think  its 
prefence,  too  ntceffary  at  this  moment,  to  af¬ 
ford  me  an  opportunity  even  of  correcting  its 
imperfe&ions,  or  of  throwing  round  its  hum¬ 
ble  garb  the  embellifhtnents  of  a  critical  revifion 
cr  the  ordinary  decorations  of  flyle. 

rJ  o  ycur  penetration  and  fagacity  it  is  need- 
lefs  to  remark,  that  the  views  taken  of  the  fub- 
jt 6b  fcim  but  an  in  perfeCl  outline  of  the 
tranfcender.ily  important  matter  propofed  for 
argument.  1  have  left  many  intere fling  points 
cf  enquiry,  to  be  furve^ed  and  explored  by 
the  very  able  Republicans  who  compofe  the 
prefent  legiflature. 

kiom  the  uniform  teror,  cf  your  political 
life,  I  feel  a  particular  pleafure  fir,  in  dedicat¬ 
ing  thde  dfays  tc  you,  for  I  am  aware,  that 
“  youp 


A* 


9 

IV. 


your  undemanding  is  as  indifferent  to  apology 
for  theiotrufion,  as  it  is  repugnant  to  adula* 
tion  in  the  addrefs, 

I  am  Sir,  Refpe&fully 

Your  mod  obedient  Servant. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


November  iytb,  ilou 


J 


> 


l 


INTRODUCTION. 


T,7F.  period  has  at  ler^cfTi  arrived.  fel!ow- 
CJtfzens.  vhtn  a  fair  ar.d  honorab’e  expert- 
ir.tnt  wi'l  be  given  to  the  operation  of  repub¬ 
lican  pniicip  es.  Ihe  Tea  on  is  at  hand  when 
ve  are  to  know,  whether  tnefe  precious 
principles  vh  ch  we  have  cher  fhed  with  par,  n* 
tal  f  ndnefs,  arc  to  end  in  fpurious  abo  ti  ns  ; 
or  whether  the  srer.erou-  care  or  republicans 

O 

vill  wa^ch  over  a:  d  propitiate  their  b  rth, 
mature  their  vrowt  and  tonfecra  ethe  r  exig¬ 
ence.  h  he  'ill  of  t  e  people  is  the  foul  of 
power;  it  is  the  aliment  of  a’l  governments  ; 
it  is  the  food  which  preferves  their  exigence  ; 
they  mult  per ifh  without  it.  in  >  merica, 
there  is  an  immediate  confanguinity  between 
the  people  ana  the  government ;  it  is  the  crea¬ 
ture  of  their  hands,  and  has  been  fafhloned  bv 
their  will.  I  therefore  difclcfe  my  iurjedt  to 
ycu —  t  is  an  i  ie  mockery  to  talk  of  a  rep  b- 
lican  adminiilraticn,  without  tae  republican 
co  operation  of  the  people. 

You  have  be  ore  \  >  u  the  recent  and  fplen- 
did  iufla  .ce  or  the  efficacy  of  organ -zed  fenti. 
pi-nt  amongst  the  people,  in  the  kite  presi¬ 
dential  elect. o  v  it  was  a  great  and  awful 
movement  of  the  will  *t  a  nation,  a  id  proves 
fu  v  deciave  and  i.refitibl;  that  is,  when 
biougiit  to  act  in  the  majefty  cf  its  llrength. 

a  This 


* 

VI. 


This  fudden  and  central  combination  of  opi¬ 
nion,  which  nothing  but  an  inftindive  and  uni- 
ve-rfal  fenfe  of  danger  could  have  produced, 
has  la:d  a  broad  and  durable  foundation  on 
which  to  erect  the  edifice  of  public  liberty  and 
national  happinefs. 

Fc  low  citizens,  the  work  is  but  half  done, 
if  you  halt  at  this  point  in  your  glorious  ca¬ 
reer.  Irerrules  mud  not  vet  lean  upon  his 
c’ub.  A  republican  ad  mini  ft  rati  on  at  the 
.head  of  your  government,  with  anti  republi- 
c  n  reprefentat  ves  in  congrefs,  involves  the 
grofldt  al  furdity  ;  it  is  a  lolecifin  in  ooutics  ; 
it  is  filicide  of  the  mod  atrocious  character.— 
Awake  from  your  dreams  of  landed  fecurity, 
and,  armed  with  the  principle,  that  it  is  the 
duty  ot  toe  people  to  eltabiifh  their  rights, 
adopt  fuch  meafures  as  are  likely  to  fecure 
thole  great  ends  Indulge  not  in  the  vain  of- 
tation  cf  a  triumphant  change,  but  rather 
e  pr  cultiCttily  bulled  in  bringing  thofe  princi¬ 
ples  to  bear  upon  your  objects,  and  thusinfufe 
them  into  the  bioed  and  fpirits  of  the  body 
•politic.  1  rds  is  not  tire  time  to  abate  your 
perseverance  m  the  great  caufe  you  have  un¬ 
dertaken.  I  p  in  filer. ce,  the  injuries 

a  r  ft  inf u Its  your  i  ii  .1  n  lv  feelings  have  been  con¬ 
i' rained  to  endure  under  the  late  admmidra- 
tion.  1  will  not  itop  to  enumerate  your  fuf- 
or  to  mark  the  humiliation  of  the 

man. 


i.  e 


hr 


.'i  oro 


•  9 

VII. 


man,  or  the  vile  degradation  of  the  cVzen. 
I  am  content  that  the  hand  of  oblivion  (hould 
throw  a  pall  over  its  enormities,  though  its 
bitter  leffions  are  indehbly  (lamped  upon  the 
heart,  1  he  fcene  in  retrospect  is  pregnant  with 
utility  for  us  and  for  pofterity,  as  I  (hall  fully 
flate  to  you  on  another  occafiom  South  Caro¬ 
lina  is  mequho:ally  republican — Is  it  true,  fel¬ 
low-citizens,  that  the  republican  fenfe  and 
fpirit  of  Carolina  has  been  expreffied  by  its 
reprefentatives  ?  Is  the  true  fe  mb  lance  and 
image  of  Carolina  reflected  by  its  reprefenta¬ 
tives  in  congrefs  ?  Can  the  genius  of  republi- 
canifm  in  this  State  (land  up  and  fav,  thefe  are 
the  fponfors  of  my  political  faith  ?  If  you  wifh 
to  be  fatisfied  on  thefe  points,  confult,  I  in¬ 
treat  you,  the  proceedings  of  congrefs.  But 
you  have  an  efficient  remedy  in  your  hands  — 
yes,  you  the  freemen  o(  South- Carolina  can 
model,  and  regulate,  and  ordain  thefe  things  as 
you  deem  proper.  It  is  (or  you  lo  to  arrange 
them,  as  bell  to  anfwer  the  ends  of  federal 
legiflation ;  to  hrengthen  the  bonds  of  focial 
union  ;  to  preferve  thofe  principles  which 
bind  together,  by  a  mydeiious  charm,  the 
elements  of  political  fociety  ;  and  at  once,  to 
convert  local  into  national  re^efeniaiioiu 

l  have  affiigned  it  as  a  duty  to  myfelf  to  point 
out  trds  p  an  to  you,  and  to  exhibit  a  correct 
nd  intelligible  chart,  by  widen  lo  (teer  your 

courie. 


The  tme  fcience  of  politics  !s  fh« 
happinefs  and  freedom  or  the  people.  If  m/ 
argument'  to  honed  minds  carry  no  weight 
v  ith  them  ;  if  mv  views  are  inaccurate;  and 
r.v  pan  incoherent,  reject  teem.  But  if 
they  a~e  found,  if  they  are  conclusive,  unao- 
fwerable  and  irrefragable,  th  n  l  a(k  \o  i  M 
fuppor*  them  ;  then,  I  fay.  accumu  ate  your 
f'rergth,  pre  s  foru  ard  to  their  adoption.  ard 
fcnng  them  to  the  ordeal  of  pub  ic  invemga- 
t-on.  J  he  iuccefs  of  hrbrmut  eiv  mom  s 
ago,  in  -f  arolina,  was  deeme^  chimerical,  nay 
vhptjfible  ;  but  nothing  could  overawe  the 
{  'em  wi  rking  an  progrefs  of  opinion,  01  ar* 
X - i 1 1 h c  a . arch  c f  p i  i nc i p . e. 


—  Qjir.d  d'v \i*n  p-omrtere 
1  emo  «iuJt:et,  verve  »•*  die*  cn  !  attulit  ultra. 


+  .n  *  •  « 

4  '■  r\  r,r 

*  ».  1  » 


•!°  *^nctj  to  fav  to  vou  on  the  ref- 

p  nfbtlitv  oi  the  pr-iVm  admini  ration,  and 
V  t-  r  ecodii  v  of  rvmj  to  t  .eir  meafures  that 

V  O  o 

t  *  bo  ;,  or  operation  and  cna.ice  of  fucce'S, 
without  v.  :c  =  .  the  executive  department  is 
; p  iiciy  tiuhified  ;  v  it'iout  this  confidence 
r  b  unporr,  v  u  w'b  impair  the  benehcial 
v  .  :th  ■  t  g  over,  n.ent,  uou  pervert  the  ipir.t 
id  b  v:  confirm  om 

li  v  e  .  iicudi-  u  of  t;-is  rrett  queftion,  I 

,  v'1.0  S.H>  A£  vi  pH  i  a  ■  ■  4,  *  *■!*  *»*- 1 


Jt.  'I  hat 


IX* 

iff.  the  election  by  gtwral  tLkef  it 
t he  true  republican  mode. 

2d  That  it  will  be  p  ditic  and  advan^ageon* 
i  i  South  Carolina  to  adorn  it  in  her  cao  ce  of 
members  or  congrefs  a  id  eiedtors. 

^,d.  I  ha:  this  is  the  crifis  far  fuch  r^gula- 
t*  >n,  in  confequence  of  an  acceffion  (by  the 
late  cenfus)  of  two  mem  Deis  in  our  reprefea- 
tat  on  to  con  rrefs, 

I  fha’l  animadvert  upon  thefe  topics  wi  h 
tom  er  and  argument,  and  1  tria  l  with  effect. 
F  epulr  canif-u  is  t hz  predicate  of  my  fubjeft — » 
public  liberty  its  offVpri  ig,  my  end. 

I  invite  you  feiioufly  to  consider  the  qnef- 
tion,  examine  it  well;  difcuffion  wi  1  detect 
error,  and  you  will  better  underftand  your 
lights;  and  when  underflood,  I  kno.v  you 
feel  the  energy,  and  have  the  capability  to  af- 
feri  them. 

As  to  m  felf,  I  declare  to  vou,  that  mv  fin- 
cere  objects  are,  a  more  complete,  perfect  and 
republican  reprcfe  itation  in  cmgrefs,  and  a 
choice  ot  elect  rs  hy  the  people  ;  becaufe  ( 
will  (hew  you,  that  a  c  loi  e  which  can  be 
pracfic  /Zly  made  bv  tae  people,  ought  to  be 
made  by  the  n,  and  that  in  fach  cafe  the  dele¬ 
gation  ol  power  to  representatives  ceifcs  to  be 
neceflhry  or  ju  t.  I  hele  are  my  views.  I  a  n 
r»t  ’‘puffing  or  hi  >wing  in  the  race  of  p  an. 
lamy> '  hor  do  1  the  warm  fundhine  of 

pl  *liai 


I 


prefidertial  favor,  I  fay  ones  mors,  unite— 
confolidate  your  exertions- — let  your  reprefen- 
tarives  fpeak  out  in  a  manly  tone,  this  claim  of 
the  people 9  and  the  objed  is  fecured* 


CONS  IDE  RAT  JONS .  We. 


1  ii  a  ill  in 


PART,  I. 


*e  The  Election  by  General  Ticket  is  the  true  Re - 

p ublican  M ode. ! * 


if  T  cannot  be  confidered  as  amongfl:  the  vices 
or  follies  cf  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
that  they  perfevere  for  any  length  of  time  in 
erroneous  opinions  concerning  their  political 
interefts.  It  is  to  be  lamented  indeed,  that 
in  many  inftances  the  pallions  and  prejudices 
cf  party,  and  the  rage  of  oppofition,  have 
oblcured  thefe  objects ;  but  when  ra;fed  above 
them,  by  the  magnitude  cf  the  fuhjeft,  they 
are  enabled  from  their  elevation  to  take  a  dif- 
tindl  and  comprehenfive  view  of  the  true  por¬ 
tion  of  things ,  with  their  bearings  and  tenden¬ 
cies.  From  this  point  let  us  v!ew  the  queflion 
before  us.  1  have  faid  that  the  election  for 
reprefentatives  to  congrefs,  by  a  general  ticket, 
is,  “  the  true  republican  mode )f  you  alk 
me  uhat  idea  1  mean  to  convey  by  “the  re¬ 
publican  mode  1  anfwer,  that  fcheme  or 
mode  cf  election,  which  proceeds  dircdly  and 
immediately  from  the  great  body  cf  the  people — - 

an 


i"  ele^ior.  hy  tJ r  rjrhrJe  people  of  i? e  Prfe. 
tot  one  ly  a  detached,  circumfctietd  p.;  t  ,f 
thepcrp-e,  in  a  co-net  of  t  e  Hate.  Ii  is  ne- 
c  -flary  to  its  did’ n dive  ch  tracer  as  a  rep  ibii  • 
can  ele&ior,  that  it  fi- c  bid  he  £y  tie  pup  's 
f  i.eta  ly,  anc  not  bv  a 'rr.al  and  inco:  fi  era- 
l  e  portion  of  that  peevle,  cr  by  a  parrcular 
clais  and  defcriptioi  of  men.  Po  the  txiiting 


regulations  on  this  ft  bud, 
ft  nr  divided  int  >  cifir  -.cls 


ihls  fl  ate  is  at 
ai  thev  flood 


i  er)y  order  the  j  dLial  a  rancren  ent  for  the 
■ch  c  'cnof  representatives  in  congrets.  (  har- 
h  1  n  diHrict  is  cmirled  to  one  member  — * 
'Jib  n  ember  i  eh cted,  we  will  fav,  by  nco 
voters  in  Charltflcn  didiidh  V  hat  is  he 
v  hen  tlccled,  and  what  charter  is  he  it  vci'U 
c  ■  with  ti:  der  the  federal  conlliiutinn  ?  tie  is 
a  eprefentative  in  congrtfs  joK  SiUtb-Ca  o  in  \ 
1  e  repreleiits  ti  e  line  through  the  diitridt, 
independently  of  the  will  or  power  of  the 
cthd  dktridls  of  the  hate,  and  the  gre  t  ma* 
j;’iiy  of  .he  p  pie.  He  is,  perhaps,  totdllr 

1  acquainted  with  t  e  policy  ar.d  intereits  of 
t  e  •  reared  per  ion  oi  ti  e  people  whom  he 

2  j.  relents,  aid  may  prove  inflrumentai  it 
icitM  i,.;  upon  that  very  people  an  odious  or 
eppi<  iTivt  law  '1  his  then,  .s  a  violation  of 
t  e  upideitative  principle;  iris  repreienta- 
ticn  by  fiction,  whence  iprurg  this  p; edi- 
loclioa  i or  a.  choice  by  diitr-iU  i  is  there  an  j 

iwrcsiY 


•V*  «» 


\ 


3 

forcery  in  the  territorial  metes  and  bounds  of 
a  diftrict  ?  Is  there  a  magic  line  drawn  round 
it,  which  conftitutes  the  few  within  it,  fove- 
reign  over  the  many  beyond  it  ?  Or  is  it  found 
republican  policy,  in  great  national  arrange¬ 
ments,  to  balance  the  fufffages  of  a  country 
againft  itfelf,  by  carving  out  geographical  lec¬ 
tions  of  the  people.  I  hold  this  principle  to 
be  ftriclly  republican,  that  the  reprcfentative 
of  South-Carolina  in  congrefs,  ought  to  be 
the  choice  of  the  people  of  Soutb-Cdrolina  ;  that 
if  he  is  the  reprefentative  of  the  (fate,  he  cari 
only  properly  be  fo  by  an  expreffion  of  the 
will  of  the  majority  of  that  date.  1  he  men 
of  ‘Ninety-Six,  of  Walhington  and  Pinckney, 
of  Camden,  of  Orangeburgh  &c.  have  as 
ftrong  a  claim  to  a  lhare  in  his  choice,  as  the 
people  of  the  diflrifl  by  whom  he  is  elected. 
If  they  have  not,  he  is  but  the  reprefentaiire 
of  a  diftriQ:.  This  ele&ion  by  dillricts,  is  a 
furrender  by  the  people  of  the  great  right  of 
ele&ion  and  reprefentation,  and  evidently  ena¬ 
bles  the  few  to  dictate  to  and  controul  the 
many  ;  it  fplits  the  republican  fenfe  and  ener¬ 
gy  of  the  people  into  little  ariltrocracies,  and 
by  dividing,  diflipates  their  llrength  and  en¬ 
feebles  their  voice.  It  narrows  down,  nay, 
deftroys  the  elective  privilege,  becaufe  the  inha¬ 
bitants  living  within  particular  lines,  are  re- 
itricUd  to  the  choice  ot  one  member ,  when 

C  they 


4 


they  ccu  d  pradlically  e7ect  fix.  The  refult 
then  is,  that  by  the  prefent'anti-republican  ar¬ 
rangement,  the  citizen  isferioufty  abridged  of 
his  ~ights ;  or  in  other  \v02ds,  he  is  excluded 
Jr  c  m  a  voice  in  the  election  or  Jive  fix  tbs  of  the 
eongrejjiorwl  reprefcntation  of  the  date  of  which 
he  is  a  member.  J  he  more  you  fubdivide  the 
flare,  the  farther  you  recede  from  the  genuine 
elective  principles.  A  few,  no  doubt,  confi- 
der  it  as  the  perfection  of  reprefentative  govern¬ 
ment  ;  became,  in  confequence  of  particular 
influences,  a  favourite  member  can  be  fecured  \ 
but  of  what  confequence  is  this  to  the  people 
generally  of  the  diftrict,  who  thereby  lofe 
their  voice  in  the  entire  reprefcntation  ! 

This  may,  and  has  proved  of  more  ferious 
importance,  than  the  acquifition  of  a  fmgle 
individual.  Diiiridls  are  the  nurferies  of  a 
local  popularity,  in  a  variety  of  in  fiances  un¬ 
known  to,  and  not  acknowledged  by  the  peo¬ 
ple  at  large.  I  will  not  now  enquire  into  its 
caules.buU  am  fu re,  that  in  three  cafes  out  of  fix, 
it  would  not  hand  the  republican  reft  of  the  ge¬ 
neral  ticketjfomething  more  than  diftricl  popu¬ 
larity  and  the  little  arts  which  often  given  rife  to 
it,  is  neceftkry  to  fecure  the  confidence,  affec¬ 
tions  and  fupport  of  the  whole  people.  It  is  de- 
nonftrated,  that  the  adoption  of  the  general  tic¬ 
ket  will  enlarge  the  fphere  of  elections  ;  that  it 
will  give  to  every  citizen  in  the  ftate,  the 

right 


i 


I 


c 

right  of  voting  for  the  whole  reprefentation^ 
and  thus  convert  the  folitarv  dilriCt  franchife 
into  a  Suffrage,  embracing  the  date,  and  ex¬ 
panding  the  vote  for  one,  into  a  choice  fo *  the 
•whole.  Men  fo  eleCted,  may  truly  be  called 
reprefentatives  of  the  people,  and  fuch  an 
election  mav  be  denominated  republican  The 
flighted  view  of  the  regulation  at  prefent  of 
force,  prefents  a  marked  departure  from  thofe 
great  principles  which  form  the  bans  of  poli¬ 
tical  judice.  It  cannot  find  a  palliation  even 
in  the  diftempered  jealoufy  of  its  votar'es. 

Before  l  purfue  any  farther,  the  progrefs  of 
this  dilcudion,  I  will  anfwer  an  objection 
which  I  have  frequently  heard  dated.  If  this 
mode  by  general  ticket  be  correct  andfalutary, 
why  not  adopt  it  in  the  date  legislature  ?  To 
this  I  reply,  that  in  the  fird  place  it  would  be 
highly  inconvenient,  and  perhaps  impracticable 
to  form  and  concert  a  jiate  ticket ,  from  tne 
number  in  the  reprefentation  ;  and  in  the  next 
place,  local  elections  mud  be  made,  becaufe  the 
various  parts  of  the  Jiate  mud  be  reprefented. 
The  fubjeCts  of  date  legislation  require  this, 
for  they  relate  alm&d  generally  to  heal  matters  ; 
to  quedions  of  police,  which  in  many  cafes 
require  a  local  knowledge  of  the  country .  Not 
io  with  regard  to  federal  reprefentation — there 
the  people  of  South-Carolina  are  reprefented 
in  their  collective  and  national  capacity.  They 


6 


fend  fix  members  to  a £1  for  the  (late — there 
they  difcufs  and  agitate  queftions  which  in¬ 
volve  the  deeped:  interefts  of  the  nation ;  on 
that  floor  they  fettle  quefliions  of  p^ace  and 
war  ;  they  raife  armies  and  equip  navies  ;  they 
levy  dircfl  taxes  ;  create  and  eftablifh  offices  ; 
pafs  [edition  and  alien  laws  ;  appropriate  money 
for  treaties,  &c.  Are  the  people  of  the  ftate 
collectively  interefted  in  thefe  momentous  con¬ 
cerns  ?  If  fo,  ought  not  every  man  to  poffefs 
the  right  of  electing  thofe  from  this  (late  who 
have  the  legiflative  power  of  impofmg  thefe 
burthens  ?  By  diftrict  reprefentation,  refpon  fi- 
bility  is  weakened  and  depreciated.  It  is  in 
yam  for  the  fuffering  citizen  to  complain  or 
murmur  at  the  mod  defperate  projects.  The 
reply  will  be,  “Sir,  /  reprefent  a  part  of  the 
country  where  my  principles,  meafures  and 
politics  aie  highly  relifhed  and  approved.”— 
dhere  are  in  fact  no  particular  local  exclufive 
diftriCt  interdts  in  federal  legiflation  ;  none* 
unlefs  you  think  fit  to  call  the  commerce  of 
Charicfton  fuch  ;  andfurely  that  appertains  to 
the  intereft  of  the  ftate  at  large  ;  it  is  well  un¬ 
derdo  od,  and  will  be  effectually  guarded  and 
preferved  by  the  general  ticket.  Diftrict  elec¬ 
tions  fofter  and  riourifh  local  attachments, 
preferences  and  particular  views,  frequently 
incompatible  with  the  general  good — In  fitua. 
tions  of  this  kind  the  member  adheres  to  his 

diftrict, 

*  •  ^  « 


7 

diftricV,  becaufehls  popularity  is  at  flake  upo» 
his  conduct. 

We  will  now  proceed  to  another  view  of 
the  fubjeft.  The  federal  principle  of  repre- 
fentation  is  founded  upon  numbers,  and  we 
are  allowed  in  the  ratio  of  three- fifths  ror  our 
Haves.  It  appears,  therefore,  in  its  character 
and  objects,  to  be  numerical ,  though  in  fact 
in  the  account  amongft  ourfelves,  property  is 
evidently  an  ingredient  in  its  conftitution, 
which  is  greatly  in  favor  of  the  lower  country. 
Slaves  were  in  fome  view  confidered  as  per  fans 
by  the  convention,  and  were  thrown  into  the 
fcale  by  compromife  ;  but  furely  in  our  (late 
regulations,  as  to  the  manner  of  ele&ion,”  . 
we  will  and  ought  to  pay  a  juft  regard  to  our 
white  population,  the  freemen  of  the  country. 

I  will  ftate,  by  way  of  example,  the  fituation 
of  the  diftri&s  of  Pinckney  and  Wafhington, 
which  fend  one  member  to  congrefs.  They 
contain  63,155  white  inhabitants,  and  at  the 
rate  of  three-fiths,  their  number  of  flaves 
amounts  to  5,877  ;  deducting,  therefore,  for 
their  prefent  member,  33,000,  it  leaves  an 
excefs  of  30,155  white  inhabitants  unreore- 
fented,  exclufive  of  5,877,  the  federal  ratio 
of  Haves.  If  I  include  Ninety-Six  diftrict,  it 
contains  44,405  white  inhabitants,  and,  at  the 
ratio  1  keep  conftantly  in  view,  7,257  Haves 
entitled  to  reprefentation  \  deduct  33,000  for 

the 


!S* 


the  member,  an  I  there  remain?  an  "excefs  or 
i  {,405  whites,  wh  chadded  to  thofe  of  Wadi- 
ington  and  Pinckney,  will  conftitute  a  body 
cf  41,560  white  inhabitants  completely  unrepre¬ 
sented  !  every  one  of  whom  entitled  to  vote 
would  have  their  full  (hare  in  the  government, 
on  the  ballot  by  general  ticket ;  fo  that,  add¬ 
ing  the  conftitutionai  number  of  their  Haves, 
15,134,  they  have  in  the  whole  54,694,  who 
have  not  even  the  fhadow  ol  reprefentation. 

The  fact  is  incontrovertible,  that  eledion 
by  didrids  will  always  leave  a  furplus  number 
beyond  the  33.000. 

This  principle  of  eledion  by  general  ticket 
is  not  new.  The  dates  of  New-Hampdiire, 

x  J 

Connedicut,  Rhode- 1  Hand,  New-Jerfey,  De- 
leware  and  Tennefiee,*  have  each  adopted  it 
with  fuccefs.  In  Virginia,  its  operation  has 
been  highly  aufpicious  in  the  choice  of  elec¬ 
tors. 

In  this  part  of  the  enquiry,  I  will  prefent  a 
feature  ol  the  fubjed,  which  will  be  more  high¬ 
ly  intereding,  in  the  fecond  number.  By  the 
conditution  of  the  United  States,  the  repre- 
fentatives  in  congrefs  are  to  choofe  the  prefi- 
dent,  in  cafe  of  an  equality  of  votes  given  by 
the  eledors  of  prefident  and  vice-prefident 


*  Smith’s  Comparative  View  of  the  different  StaU 
Conditutioiis,  publiuied  in  1796. 


throughout 


9 


throughout  (he  United  States.  The  cafe  h ns 
happened,  and  may  occur  again.  If  reprefen- 
tation  be  a  fubftitute  for  the  prefence  and  a  ba  ud 
agency  of  the  people,  how  were  you  repre- 
ed  on  that  occafion  ?  Oid  you  not  e&prefs 
your  fenfe  on  the  queftion  by  the  electors  chofen 
at  Columbia,  and  how  was  that  choice  treated 
by  the  d ii tried  members  of  congrefs  at  Wafh- 
ington  ?  Were  you  not  in  imminent  danger  of 
having  a  man  forced  upon  you  in  that  high 
and  refponfiblo  office,  who  was  not  your 
choice  ?  and  this  by  men  who  are  called  your  r$- 
prefentatives;  but  in  the  election  of  five-fixths  of 
whom  you  had  no  more  to  fay,  than  if  they 
had  been  fent  from  Connecticut.  There  can 
be  no  fympathy  of  nature  between  fuch  men. 
and  thofe  whom  they  are  laid  to  reprefent.  I 
will  enforce  this  remark  by  bringing  to  vour 
view  a  cafe  in  poinn  I  will  introduce,  for  the 
fake  of  argument,  the  member  from  Beaufort 
and  Orangeburgh,  elected  by  784  votes.™ 
Ke  is  a  member  for  33,00c  ;  in  cafe  of  refer¬ 
ence  to  congrefs.  upon  the  election  of  prefi- 
dent  and  vice-prefident,  this  vote  might  have 
turned  the  fcale,  and  decided  the  con' eft ;  and 
yet,  allowing  him  his  33,000,  I  then  fay  1  :/• 
750,000  people,  under  the  federal  cevfs  in 
this  ftate,  had  not  the  molt  remote  agent"/  c 
inftrumenta lity  in  his  election .  c  b  .;po.  -nt 
hereto  remember,  that  the  vote  \vj  ,0 

r 

a  w 


so 


for  pref:chnt  is  by  States ,  that  is  to  fay, the  ma|o« 
r:ty  cf  the  members  from  a  ftate  determine  the 
vote  of  that  ftate.  In  this  predicament,  a  dif- 
trid  member,  whofe  politics  may  be  at  vari¬ 
ance  with  the  great  majority  of  the  people  of 
Ins  ftate  (whofe  fenfe  on  the  fubjecl  has  been 
folemnly  and  legally  exprefied)  decides  the 
controverfy  as  he  pleafes.  Thetruft,  in  every 
view,  is  one  of  a  moft  delicate  and  facred  cha¬ 
racter.  In  the  firft  place  he  legiflates  ;  and, 
under  the  circumftances  ftate d,  may  become 
the  di/tridi  rep  re/e  mating  elector  of  the  prefi- 
dent,  who  is  to  direct  the  movements  and  con- 
dud:  the  adminiftration  of  the  United  States. 

In  my  treatment  of  this  fubjed,  L  banifh 
from  my  view  the  common  place  objection  of 
of  an  unjuft  combination  of  the  majority 
again  ft  the  minority.  It  is  lefs  likely  to  hap¬ 
pen  by  general  ticket  than  in  diftrict  electons. 
'1  here  will  be  a  wider  range  for  party  fpirit  and 
the  fury  of  the  “  ejprit  de  corps''  which,  by 
being  pent  up  wnthin  narrow  bounds,  may 
burft  forth  in  fome  violent  explofiom  Be  this 
as  it  may,  it  is  the  law  of  fcciety  that  the  major 
ihould  controul  the  minor  party.  It  is  the  firft 
principle  of  government.  To  fuppofe  that  it 
will  be  wrongfully  exercifed  or  grofsly  pervert¬ 
ed,  is  to  impute  the  worft  ana  bafeft  mom  es  to 
our  brethren  of  the  other  parts  of  the  Irate. — 
'i  his  would  be  again  to  throw  down  the  apple 

of 


« 


II 


©r  difcord  ;  to  renew  hoftilities  in  the  field  of 
opinion  ;  and  to  reduce  to  the  ifiiie  of  an 
angry  ftruggle  in  the  legiflature,  that  which 
ought  to  be  a  voluntary  and  fpontaneous  ac¬ 
commodation,  They  may  let  rt  in  their  turn 
and  fay,  that  we  who  occupy  this  fpot,  be- 
caufe  we  inhabit  a  magnificent  city,  with 
commerce,  riches  and  fplcndor,  infill  upon 
the  right  to  monopolize  all  the  power  and  coil- 
fequence  of  the  country. 

There  are  many  prominent  grounds  of  ar¬ 
gument  which  appear  to  belong  to  this  paper, 
which  I  fhall  arrange  under  the  other  heads.™ 
I  wave  for  the  prefent  the  queflion  concerning 
the  electors.  I  think  I  have  made  it  appear 
that  the  plan  propofed  is  “  the  republican 
mode/’ 

1  confider  the  election  by  general  ticket,  as 
one  calculated  to  melt  down  the  hitherto  dis¬ 
cordant  opinions  of  Carolina  into  the  great 
mafs  of  public  intereft  and  general  happinefs. 
It  will  greatly  tend  to  fmooth  the  afperity  and 
foften  the  acrimony  of  contending  parties.  It 
will  obliterate  thofe  invidious  lines  of  demar¬ 
cation,  which  have  been  drawn  between  the 
upper  and  lower  divifions  of  the  Hate,  and 
thus  unite  a  people,  too  long  eftranged  from 
each  other.  It  w  ill  enable  the  people,  of  the 
weft  to  imparl  with  thofe  of  the  eaff,  and  of 
the  north  to  harmonize  with  thole  cf  the 

fcUlh  £ 


4 


D 


12 


fomh  ; — it  will  draw  defer  the  cords  of  afr 
f  blicn.  and  bring  about  a  gradual  affimilation 
of  republican  principles,  opinions  and  in- 
terefls. 

PART .  11. 


<i  That  it  null'  be  politic  and  a  dv  ant  a?  eons  in  South-Caroft* 
nZy  to  adept  it  in  h^r  choice  cf  Ad  embers  of  Corgrejs 

and  L  lectors.” 

I  WILL  proceed,  fellow- citizens,  to  the 
difeuffion  of  this  interesting  view  of  the  fub- 
jedt,  by  prefen  ting  to  you  a  feature  of  the  cafe, 
which  will  arrefl  your  moil  ferious  attention. 

It  will  imprefs  cn  your  minds  and  feelings  the 
important  neceiTity  of  adopting  the  arrange¬ 
ment  proposed,  and  cf  expreffmg,  as  a  peo¬ 
ple,  your  decided  nreference  of  the  republi-  * 
can  election  by  general  ticket.  1  he  4th  fee- 
lion  of  the  iff  article  of  the  federal  conftitu- 
tion,  provides,  “that  the  times,  places  and 
manner  of  holding  elections  for  fenators  and 
reprefentatives,  fhail  be  preferibed  in  each 
flare  by  the  legiflature  thereof;  but  the  con- 
grefs  may,  by  law,  make  or  alter  fuch  regula¬ 
tions,  except  as  to  places  of  choofing  fenators.” 
This  fhews  you  that  your  manner  of  election 
is  completely  and  irrevocably  under  the  con- 
troul  of  congrefs.  They  can  dictate  what 

terms 


1 


*3 


terms  they  pleafe.  They  are  not  even  confin¬ 
ed  to  what  we  confider  the  ineftimable  vote  by 
ballot.  You  can,  it  is  true,  prefcribe  the 
mode  ;  but  they  with  equal  authority  can,  in 
their  tern,  c<  make,”  or  even  cc  alter  fuch  re  * 
gulations.”  It  is  of  moment,  therefore,  that 
the  regulation  of  your  local  adminiftration 
fhould  precede  that  of  congrefs,  becaufe  the 
ftate  reprefentatives  are  fuppofed  to  be  connu- 
fant  of  your  interefls  and  requifitions.  Su- 
peradded  to  this,  it  will  have  the  weight  of 
law,  and  a  recent  regulation  of  the  (late, — 
Without  fuch  an  expreffion  of  the  national  will 
on  your  part,  congrers  may  adopt  a  plan  re¬ 
pugnant  to  your  wilhes.  A  party  there,  to 
meet  their  own  views,  may  annihilate  every 
appearance  of  republican  election.  The  fup- 
porters  of  fedition  laws,  and  advocates  of  the 
deftrudtion  of  the  prefs,  the  organ  of  pub, ic 
opinion,  I  fear,  would  feel  no  great  hefitation 
in  laying  their  hands  on  the  hallowed  right  of 
election.  In  their  fcheme  of  policy,  the  gra¬ 
dation  would  be  eafy.  It  is  not  impolfible  but 
that  fome  of  y our  dijlridl  members  may  lend 
their  moil  active  aid,  in  fnatching  this  privi¬ 
lege  from  the  whole  people  of  a  (late,  to  nur¬ 
ture  their  own  influence,  and  perpetuate  their 
continuance  in  power.  It  is  nor  to  be  looked 
for — It  is  too  great  a  ftretch  of  patriotifm,  to 
expect,  in  thefe  times,  that  members  of  congrefs 

will 


.will  Support  the  general  ticket,  by  which  they 
are  at  once  flung  into  the  (hade,  and  fink  into 
their  primitive  obfcurity.  It  would  be  a  Spe¬ 
cies  of  oftracifm,  or  if  you  pleafe,  “  displace¬ 
ment,”  too  galling  to  individual  pride,  and 
infupportable  to  their  fancied  dignity.  It  is 
unreasonable  to  fuppofe,  that  a  diftridt  member 
cf  congrefs  will  Sign  his  political  death-war¬ 
rant,  by  Supporting  the  general  ticket,  and 
placing  Such  an  engine  in  the  hands  of  the 
people.  Representatives  elected  by  the  people 
getetally,  will  fpeak  their  fenfe,  and  contend 
for  their  privileges.  Knowing  and  poflfefling 
themfelves  the  Sentiments  of  their  constituents, 
exprefled  in  their  laws,  they  will  preferve  a 
dole  adherence  to  their  meaSures  ;  and  Stand¬ 
ing  oa  the  vantage  ground  oS  a  certain  and 
Sr^b’e  popularity,  they  will  independently 
exprefs  the  public  will  in  our  national  council  •. 
Should  congrefs  aflame  tne  regulation  of  this 


iubjcct,  \ou  will  have  Secured  two  great  and 
leading  objects- — the  adoption  of  the  general 
ticket  by  this  ft  te,  and  the  confequent  lupport 
of  vour  members,  railed  to  the  floor  ot  con- 

j  • 

grefs  by  that  general  and  republican  choice. 
As  we  ‘hall  have  the  whole  ftate  to  make  our 
Selection  Irom,  thefe  will  be  men  of  prominent 
character,  great  talents  and  high  confidence. 
For  thefe  reafons  it  is  advantageous  to  adopt  it ; 
fc r  if  the  queftion  was  brought  forward  at  this 

day 


I 


day,  as  a  ftate,  we  labour  under  the  moft  fla¬ 
grant  difad  vantages,  in  the  total  difregard 
fhewn  to  the  opinions  of  the  people,  by  fome 
of  the  difrrid  reprefentatives.  Exercife  your 
rights  while  you  have  the  power  to  do  fo,  and 
when  the  queflion  is  agitated  before  congrefs, 
let  not  South-Carolina  be  cited  as  an  indance 
of  the  eleflion  bv  diffricls  Abandon  it  ini- 

J 

mediately  ;  dil’mifs  all  inferior  cc  ilderation-,  as 
un  vorthy  of  a  free  and  enlightened  (late,  and, 
derogatary  to  thofe  virtuous  principles  which 
are  fpreading  their  influence  around  us. 

1  afkyou,  with  mingled  fenfations  of  melan¬ 
choly  rec  dlcclion  and  pain,  what  would  have 
been  vo  r  fate,  if  the  queftion  had  been  qif* 
c  tiffed  in  the  lad  congrefs,  about  the  time  of 
the  memorable  ballot  for  prefident  of  the 
United  orates  ?  1  Know  your  feelings,  and  will 
not  aggravate  their  mortification,  by  railing 
the  curtain  of  that  federal  fcene  ! 

It  if  for  you  to  apply  a  fpeedy  and  effectual 
remedy  to  thefe  difbr  ers.  1  he  collective  voice 
of  the  date  is  the  grand  healing  panacea.  The 
vote  by  general  ticket  will  either  work  oiT  the 
fee  ant  vitiated  humours  of  the  fvttem,  or, 
like  the  cau'lc,  deflroy  the  corroding  gan¬ 
grene,  with  which  we  are  politically  afflicted. 
1  look  to  t  e  people  and  their  reprefentatives  at 
Columbia,  for  theie  -reat  and  fanative  appli¬ 
cations. 


What 


X 


'What  is  representation  ?  It  Is  an  expedient 
adopted  in  government,  by  which  the  people 
delegate  the  management  of  their  rights,  to 
perfons  elected  by  them  for  that  puroofe,  and 
tor  their  benefit.  1  here  are  two  efihntial  co¬ 
venants  in  the  contract  between  the  reprefenta- 
tive  and  the  condiment.  In  the  firft  place, 
there  mud  be  fidelity  to  the  truft,  in  the  repre¬ 
sentative*,  and  Secondly,  in  cafe  of  imfcon. 
duel,  that  the  condiment  may  change  the  ap¬ 
pointment  and  difeharge  him.  I  have  before 
obferved  to  you,  that  the  difkrici  member,  the 
moment  he  :s  chofen,  is  transformed  64  into 
the  representative  of  the  ftate  he  reprefents 
the  aggregate  interefis  of  the  country.  Now 
what  conircu  have  the  red  of  the  people  over 
this  member  in  cafe  of  mi  icon  da  cl  ?  Suppofe 
he  were  to  per  ill  for  years  in  a  train  of  con- 
dudl  holliie  and  difgufiing  to  every  other  dif- 
tridl  in  the  date  j  you  have  no  alternative, 
you  rnir't  fubmit  to  the  caprice  of  the  diflricl 
which  font  him,  or  rather  you  mud  acauiefce 

j  _  JL 

in  their  direction  of  your  concerns.  The  con¬ 
tra  cl  froken  cf,  is  therefore  a  mockery.  But, 
fay  the  friends  of  the  prefent  fcheme,  how  are 
v/e  to  know  what  men  to  cleft  on  this  general 
ticket,  except  by  reputation  ?  >  fay  it  is  a  very 
good  ;  and.  rd  bv  which  to  elect  a  man.  k ve¬ 
ry  elefbon  is  liable  to  the  fame  objection,  if  it 
|>e  one,  for  all  the  electors  even  of  a  parifh, 

cannot 


»7 


«:  j:  .;*>  ttao'.v.l 


.A.  *. 


car.not  pretend  to  an  intimate  and  perm.;,* 
knowledge  of  a  card  Irate,  in  a  difbi:!  it  is 
idle  to  expcfl  it— an  unf  t  man  v.h  have  i  fs 
chance  bv  t*  e  pin  era!,  than  '  v  d’  tv  election. 
It  is  not  probable  that  a  man  q*j  .bliej  ^  :  r3 

and  chai  abler  fo*  congrefs,  will  t  u  ir,.io  i 
to  the  people  at  large  I  think  1  c  <  pro¬ 
duce  home  inftances  of  di  d  j  d;  ciebidm?  ii 
which  the  member  could  nor  bav 
bv  two  thirds  of  the  ini  1  O  !  tints.  B 

j 

general  reputation  is  a  never  failing  ted.  V  e 
are  obliged  to  elect  our  Prejidcnt  cur'  V.cs-Fre - 
dent  in  that  way,  and  no  republican  compiaihs 
of  the  rcfuit.  Is  it  not  better  to  elect  2m  peral- 

O 

Iy  in  this  mode  and  under  th’efe  circum't  owes, 
than  that  the  people  of  Pendleton,  e  bbevihe, 
York,  Edgefield,  cr  elfewere,  fhould  be  re- 
prefented  by  men  whom  ih ■  y  do  not  know  even 
by  refutation  !  Bet  if  the  observation  had  force, 
there  is  no  human  irdlitntion  without  objection, 
and  this  of  the  general  ticket  is  counterbalan¬ 
ced  by  greater,  folid  and  pofiiive  advantages. 
Tile  re  is  no  danger  of  any  embarrahment  of 
this  kind- — he  citizens  vviu  take  care  to  feleft 
proper  ‘peri  on:-  ot  known  and  fixed  principles, 
and  of  attractive  and  eitabiilhed  merit;  they 
have  taken  too  muen  on  trnd  already  ?  they 
wilt  not  eafiiy  be  again  entrapped  by  profef- 
hons.  It  is  the  duty  of  a  good  foidier  ro  look 
well  to  the  out- works,  when  an  attack  is  medi¬ 
tated 


* 


4 

i8 

rated  on  the  garrifon. 

I  think  it  may  be  affirmed  with  truth ,that  you 
never  will  have  a  repreientation  in  congrefs 
wholly  republican,  till  the  adoption  of  the  ge¬ 
neral  ticket.  You  may,  by  the  diltrich  choice, 
fecure  two  cr  three  of  that  defciipticn.  In 
feme  inftances  we  have  dene  fo,  and  cv.  e  them 
much  for  their  zeal,  and  ardent,  though  un- 
fuccefsful  fer  vices. 

But  that  muft  be  confidered  an  execrable 
fcheme  of  politics,  which  leaves  fuch  great  in- 
terefts  to  contingent  and  fortuitous  occurren¬ 
ces,  and  parcels  cut  the  people  for  the  accom¬ 
modation  of  particular  men.  If  it  be  called 
ccmpronufe ,  it  is  a  contemptible  barter  of  rights , 
for  fomeihing  as  infignificant  as  a  mefs  of  pot¬ 
tage  ! 

The  truth  is,  that  this  ek&ion  by  diflridls 
was  engendered  by  influence  and  inteiefls 
which  have  loft  their  hold  upon  the  people,-— 
The  power  of  names  has  died  away.  That  day 
is  palled,  and  you  are  emancipated  from  their 
controul,  by  the  genius  of  republicanism — 
Drugged  as  you  have  been  by  the  anodynes  of 
iuperior  claims,  family  pretentions,  and  ex- 
clufive  rights,  it  is  time  to  apply  the  ftimu- 
lants  of  juftice  and  republican  policy,  to 
awaken  you  from  the  deep  fleep  into  which 
you  had  funk.  An  unbounded  confidence  may 
fcmetimes  degenerate  into  a  torpid  negligence 

cf 

\  • 


of  public  concerns.  If  is  In  vain  to  fay,  that 
the  exifting  mode  has  been  in  practice  inwards 
of  fen  years*  loo  long,  indeed  have  we 
endured  it ;  but  time  cannot  fanctify  its  ufe, 
ncr  give  a  right  by  prefer  Ipfioa  to  govern.— 
It  is  c f  no  confequence  to  the  fu  eject,  whe¬ 
ther  the  principle  I  contend  for,  be  co.eval 
with  the  ufage  or  New- 1  lamp  mire,  or  upflart 
with  the  pre  ent  period.  1  afk.  is  it  fair  ?  Is  it 
equal  and  falutary  ?  Is  it  republican  ? 

There  :s  a  fpir't  of  free  and  rational  enquiry 
abroad,  and  it  is  our  duty  to  folio  vv  truth 
wherever  it  leads  us. 

We  are  now  fe:tling  a  queftion  of  rig!  t,  on 
the  bafis  of  political  convenience  and  expedi¬ 
ency.  It  is  fufficient  for  the  purpofe,  that  we 
fee  it,  and  to  infure  its  fucceis,  that  we  will 
It  Sure'*v  the  recent  tranfa&ions  in  congrefs, 
are  lufficient  to  roufe  us  to  a  fenfe  of  our  ii {.na¬ 
tion.  i  he  people  are  cmed  the  fource  of 
power-  If  this  •  cans  any  thing  more  than 
metaphorical  fiction,  the  ft  ream  fhould  poflefs 
the  qualities  of  the  fountain.  A  reprefenta- 
tive,  who,  if  [  may  ufe  the  expreflion,  is  born 
of  the  people,  .he  od  b  ar  about  him  fome 
filial  refembkmcec*  ice  on  oring  fhould  exhibit 
fome  traits  and  lineaments  of  its  parent.— 
You  never  will  fee  thefe  points  of  nm  litude 
?  •  adoption  of  the  general  ticket — With* 
out  it,  you  may  itruggle  in  vain  ior  the  attain- 

b  merit 


ment  of  true  liberty*  Even  her  facrrd  nam© 
without  it,  in  the  prefent  pofture  of  things, 
becomes  an  empty  found- 

I  know  full  well  how  this  queftion  (lands 
with  a  particular  party.  I  am  aware,  that 
with  certain  characters,  there  is  a  prejudice 
bordering  on  antipathy,  refpeCting  the  benefi¬ 
cial  extern  Hon  of  this  privilege  to  the  people 
generally.  I  agree  wi  h  a  great  and  wife  poli¬ 
tician,  that  this  is  a  mill  which  the  fun  that 
has  mw  rifen,  will  fpeedily  dillipate.  They 
may  keep  it  about  them  as  tight  as  the  coun¬ 
tryman  in  the  fable,  did  his  cloak — that  fame 
fun,  without  any  more  violence  than  the 
warmth  of  his  beams,  will  compel  them  to 
throw  it  afide,  unlefs  they  feel  an  inclination  to 
fweat  under  it. 

rl  he  people  by  this  time  are  too  fully  appri- 
fed  of  the  principles  Hated,  to  be  any  longer 
excluded  from  their  rightful  (hare  in  the  ria~ 
tional  government.  After  this  view  of  the 
proportions  already  lubmitted  to  you,  permit 
me  to  introduce  to  your  ferious  reflection,  the 
dilemma  into  which  your  political  character, 
as  a  people,  has  been  thrown.  I  had  ahnofl 
afked  you  indeed,  whether  you  had  any  na¬ 
tional  political  cha ra&er  ?  I  venerate  your 
principles,  and  fay,  yes,  you  have.  But  by 
what  tatal  delufion  ;  by  what  miflaken  and  in¬ 
verted  policy  has  that  character  been  degraded 


2! 


and  metamorphofed  In  congrefs  ?  It  is  a  fact 
well  known  to  men  of  information,  that 
South-Carolina  has  been  confidered  wanting, 
by  her  filter  republican  dates,  in  the  derling 
qualities  of  which  they  are  competed.  They 
judge  of  you  in  this  way.  South-Carolina  has 
for  upwards  of  ten  years  pad,  uniformly 
fent  a  majority  of  men  devoted  to  the  federal 
intereds  and  its  various  plans,  and  yet  you 
are  republicans  at  home.  The  people,  the 
legiflature,  and  the  electors  are  republicans.— 
Ton  have  never  vet  voted  for  Tohn  cams  as 

J  ^ 

prefident ;  but  you  have  fent.  reprefentatives 
to  congrefs,  who  embraced  with  open  arms, 
Tils  deitruaive  fdr  erne  of  politics.  Some  of 
them  no  fconer  entered  the  had  of  congrefs, 
than  they  became  his  rnofl  naive  and  fivored 
agents.  It  was  natural  that  th's  ihou!d  have 
excited  fufpicion,  and  even  difgul’t  in  thofe 
•who  faw  the  odious  defpotifna  he  was  about  to 
edablifh.  rl  hey  conclude  *  there  was  fotne  lea¬ 
ven  of  anti  republican  fpirit  in  all  this.  Per¬ 
haps  it  was  not  unjuft  to  remark,  what  a 
ftrange  amphibious  people !  What  an  inexpl? 
cable  and  incongruous  mixture  !  With  repub¬ 
lican  materials  to  work  upon,  they  condruT  a 
reprefentation  in  congrefs  directly  the  reverie 
of  the  principles  prevalent  in  then  own  date  j 
and  eleft  them,  it  would  feem,  for  no  other 
purpofe,  than  to  fubvert  the  order  of  things 

antecedently 


r. 


.antecedently  Tna’ntainer!  and  eTablifhed  among 
themfe'ves.  Such  things,  without  much  aid 
irom  fancy,  may  create  c\  fruit.  No  nan  can 
find  an  apologv  for  uch  b  ind  repul  live  c  >n- 
du£t,  who  \\  id  calmly  review  fome  of  the 
elections  in  the  upper  and  lower  diifricts.  It 
may  well  be  afked,  of  what  confequence  is  it, 
that  you  elect  Jefierfon  and  Burr,  if  you  difi- 
troy  with  your  lei t  band,  what  you  have  raifed 
with  your  right  ?  What  is  it  then  wnich  keeps 
up  thefe  petty  repugnancies  in  congrefs,  which 
dishonor  a  p  op  e  ?  i  teii  youtne  mafs,  cotn- 
pofed,  o  '  hefe  dlcoriant  elements  an  i  diflimi- 
!  :’•  opinions,  is  held  together  by  the  comp^ef- 
iive force  or  diltri-.d  elections  —Remove  them, 
and  the  evil  is  radically  cured. 

I  fpeak  with  the  freedom  of  mftory,  when  I 
aflert,  that  lb  doubtful  were  thore  in  power  of 
your  poll t  cs,  that  you  have  always  been  calculat¬ 
ed  upon  ;  veu  have  even  bun  pledged  for  fome 
federal  votes  for  prdldent,  till  they  cU'covered 
vour  ol-fiinate  Derfevera-  ce  -  as  they  ar  nleaf- 
ed  to  term  it)  i  ■  jac  .oinifm.  They  expected 
that  the  f.  ..e  delufi  u  •  oich  lent  your  con- 
:  .  Iona;  vprefentuiF  .s«  v.  ad  predominate 

in  n  e  choice  of  eleP-  >rs.  Fortunately  tor  us 
rid  the  United  tarns,  they  were  deceived  ; 
and  v  e  \  ave  eic.  p  u  the  fcorn  of  republicans, 
rod  the  execrations  of  poftenty.  Yourfplen- 
•  utiiotifin  dil'pelled  every  hoftiie  project, 

and 


and  changed,  t>erhv os  the  denudes  of  \me- 

O  •'l  .  J 


i .  anifn 


I 


r-» 

i  ul  > 


hca.  tfrom  tnat  aiom  u:t,  rep 
become  the  ah:  - '  da  it  an  i  g  >ver  ii,t  t  principle 
in  the  adminl  Yrah  m  of  our  a  fairs.  How 
long  it  ,wiil  remain  :b,  i  you  madly  ~erhft  in 
the  fvfteni  of  difirifl  election,  time  a'  me  can 
determine.  ['here  is  no  node,  in  my  ooinion* 
by  which  you  can  be  redeemed  from  this 
wretched  three  com,  a::::  vindicate  ycur  repub¬ 
lican  character,  but  >v  the  ediiacl-us  remedy 
of  the  general  beket.  It  is  the  only  tn  ;de,  by 
which  you  can  inf  do  into  congrefs  your  un¬ 
adulterated  oof tion  o  .  oouiar  fenti.aent.  it 
is  in  i, it  the  on1/  or.  which  the  people  of 
a  date  can  be  laid  to  enjoy*  a  fubit  intial  fede¬ 
ral  repreienuuon.  This  is  the  charter  of  your 
jrcedem  !  Cuard  and  protect  it  with  republican 
inflitutions,  and  1  pronounce  it  indeitruclibie. 
The  current  of  public  opinion  is  gradually 
fwelling  in  its  courie  morn  the  mountains,  and 
will  f.veep  to  the  fame  oblivion,  L  .e  PnalJow 
fophiftry  of  declaimers,  and  i . .  e  w  1 1  u  e .  i  u  lions 
of  anti-republican  rage,  it  is  for  you  to  allix 
the  (lamp  of  law  to  principles  developed  by 
argument  and  fupported  by  rea 'bn.  /\:i  object 
wruch  prom '.:cs  feck  diffufive  blefliags,  well 
deferves  your  care.  It  will,  among. t  many 
other  valuao  e  eitecls,  c  unpleteiy  d:  troy  an 
it  flue  nee ,  which  has  already  taken  root,  and 
hawing  found  a  congenial  fertility  of  foil, 

t 

1  opry*  V 

i'v  V 


fecms  to  *eg*tat-  bed  in  the  vicinity  oF  that 
element  on  which  it  was  borne  to  our  fhores* 
Eemcml  er  the  in  fir  active  moral  from  the  alle¬ 
gory  of  the  fog  at  the  he :1s  of  the  traveller— 
at  fird  it  was  frnall,  low  andfcarcely  difcerni* 
ble,  till  rifing  it  covered  the  hills  and  filled  tht 
atmo'phere. 

This  projeclecl  plan  of  the  general  ticket, 
will  effectually  prevent  a  combination  of  in¬ 
fluential  men  in  a  di drift,  and  from  different 
parts  of  the  date,  to  fecure  the  election  of  a 
favorite  political  Candida  e.  in  a  particular 
diftrifb*  This  naturally  creates  fervility  and 
cbiieaticn  in  the  member,  which  lead  to  con- 
fequences  prefent  to  the  mind  of  every  think¬ 
ing  man.  C  abal  and  faction  muff  fink  into 
the  dull,  under  that  ju-  icious  fvftem,  which 
flretches  the  fphere  of  fimrage  over  an  entire 
ftate.  If  it  dees  not  dedroy  them,  it  will  at 
lead  controul  and  paralize  their  effects. 

From  thefe  diverfified  afpeets  of  the  fubjeff, 
I  demand  of  your  underdanding,  fcC  vv  nether 
it  be  not  politic  and  advantageous  in  South- 
Carolina  to  adopt  the  general  ticket.’*  1  have 

not  time  to  explore  it  furti:  er  in  detail  :  to  n:y 

'  * 

mind,  the  petition  has  been  fati  ladlorily  main¬ 
tained.  It  is  well  to  recollect:,  that  to  the  re- 


*  I  think  I  or.^e  ’-'"id  C nnetbin: ;  about  treats,  barb!- 
cuts,  &c.  but  perhaps  t  was  ere:  rn  j 


gulatlon  proDored,  there  is  no  constitutional 
ftumbling-block  in  the  wav.  You  are  as  free 
to  change  the  diftric  election?,  as  \ou  are  any 
other  master  of  lee  Qitive  ana  1  .*e  1  mt  — 

1  o 

There  is  no  more  difficulty  in  the  bufinefs, 
than  there  is  in  chan  i.  g  a  public  road,  which 
you  da  not  tnink  proper  any  longer  to  ufe.  — 
By  this  i  mean,  that  the  thing  is  completely 
within  the  regulation  cf  an  a:h  of  affenbly. 
I  look  for  cppofition  to  it— I  expect  this  to 
every  meafure  which  claims  to  be  republican. 
But  when  you  fee  men.  cling  to  inveterate  abu- 
fes,  with  the  fame  ardor  that  others  advocate 
the  mod  facred  lights,  believe  me,  there  is 
fomething  grofsly  defective,  fomething  rotten 
in  their  fyftem.  Keep  a  heady  vigilant  eye 
upon  fuch  politicians,  and  the  bed  refutation 
you  can  oppofe  to  their  fophifms,  will  be  to 
bring  your  plan  to  the  teft  of  experience.  Let 
it  have  a  full  and  fair  hearing,  and  “  for  trial, 
put  itfelf  upon  God  and  the  country.” 

W ith  reipedt  to  the  choice  of  electors  by  ge¬ 
neral  ticket,  the  arguments  already  urged,  ap¬ 
ply  with  great  force.  A  variety  of  others, 
peculiarly  appropriate  to  the  fubjedt,  will  be 
adduced  in  a  feparate  difeuffion  of  this  topic. 
1  o  incorporate  them  here,  i  find,  w  ill  extend 
zny  obfervations  to  a  cenfurable  length. 

fellow- Citizens,  I  have  brought  before  you 
ground*  which,  in  my  ediinaticn,  ought  to 

hav.e 


have  •  or^r.  s  we^nt,  "  '  hen  I  Iook  into 
there'  '  v  o.IcL  :•  rd  Tee  a  people  indifferent 

•  > 

JL  * 

r-  :.  “  •  em ;  n  v  rea'on  fuggefts  to 

of'  th  ountry  is  flain  * 
c  nly  h  a  fjrsgle 
cperiment 

has  ?  .  '  >!cv  co'  tr  ance  of 

gov.  i.  •  (  b  is  iti  many  ref- 

pec*  s  in  feet,  1-  i  Vies  are  found  and 


r 

or 


ccrecu  but  ti  rc re  .  :e  generous  care 

a  1  c  -  pec  -  c  '  •  ern  to  practice  and 

cn  vp  rr* t- ;  n 

^  ^  ^ ^  ^  ^  ^  i-  •  A  C*  s.'  ^  •«—  C  v  4.  -  4  X  9 

.-T  v  r*  ///• 

ccTH<Sisr  oh-  orfuch  regulations,  in 

ccrdequence  of  r:  ?c.'r  'o''  by  'he  late  cenfus 


c  >  two  members  m  our 

rvcfc  »’ 

i>:  w  :G'  r>  ,  ■ 

iheto’ic  propofed  ipe^-ks  forcibly  Its  own 
ro~  -i  -  d  the  proportion  it  contains 
rs  to  :  inte  nal  and  in  le  evi- 
deuce  o.  its  truth.*  If  the  amelioration  of 

The  a  gument  is  founded  upon  tl  >refent  appor- 
merit  ( i  ■  .to  numbers.  Should  con- 

A 

:  refs  alter  tl  s  -/a  .  e  ent,  vve  >  i  ill  be  allowed  two 
additional  rr  *  :  r?  veil  at  the  rate  of  one  for  36,000. 

aether  the  ex.  =  ing  plan  of  one  for  33,000  is  prefer1  *- 
f  or  not,  ...  ■  •  <  f  the  general  ticket  Hill  holds 

i.  ~*y  t  b  :  c,  by  sc  -pting  a  law  to  this  manner  of 
ii  y,  you  may  prov!  le  for  the  apportionment  by 
:  i  refs,  -  (  Id  fu  h  be  made. 


rc  preicntaion  to  con- 


T 


I 


the  reprefentative  fyftem  were  under  the  gui¬ 
dance  of  the  moll  cautious  and  timid  policy, 
and  one,  in  fome  degree,  reluctant  to  reform, 
it  would  naturally  embrace  this  period  as  impe- 
rioufly  calling  for  a  change,  and  prefenting  at 
the  fame  time,  the  choiceft  forms  of  republi¬ 
can  modification.  1  he  flow  progreftion  of 
events  rarely  prefents  a  greater  fitnefs  and  ap¬ 
titude  for  improvement,  than  the  moment  in 
which  1  write.  The  embryo  of  this  facred 
principle,  engendered  in  the  womb  of  public 
Jieedom,  has  gone  its  allotted  time  and  is  ma¬ 
tured.  f  ir  parturition.  This  delicate  and  event¬ 
ful  operati  n  is  entruPied  to  ;he  hands  of  the 
pe  Die;  on  our  care  it  will  depend,  whether 
it  lhali'be  brought  forth  in  pangs,  its  firfl 
breath  be  extinguifhed,  and  the  delivery 
prove  abortive;  or.  whether  it  {hall  be  ufher- 
cd  into  being,  un  ^r  the  h^-prer  aufpices  of  a 
joyous  bit  th. 


Ihe  late  cenr  s  of  the  people  of  this  date 

1  7 

has  given  us  tuo  members  or  c  eng  refs,  in  ad¬ 


dition  to  the  fix  elected  u  ..er  the  cenfui  of 
1790;  fo  that,  at  the  ne-.t  election,  we  (hall 
be  entitled  to  lei  d  eight  ieprjfer>tat;v^s.  it 
therefore  becomes  inddpenfiolv  neceiLry  to 
new  model  and  rev.fj  the  law  in  that  refpect, 
in  order  to  make  provifion  for  the  t.vo  newly- 
acquired  members.  J  his  re-aajuitment  of  the 
matter  mult,  of  neceffitv,  occupy  the  atfen- 


p 


p 


£ 


hen  of  the  legiflature  at  their  approaching 
feflion,  to  meet  the  eledlions  for  congrefs  in 
the  year  *802  ;  fcecaufe,  being  evidently 
entitled  to  the  acceffion  fpoken  of,  the  legi¬ 
fiature  mn ft  immediately  determine  how,  and 
when,  and  where  they  {hail  be  defied  Pur- 
fuirg,  for  a  moment,  the  idea  of  our  prefent 
diftricc  fyftem,  the  firft  qoeftion  which  invites 
enquiry,  is,  where  will  you  locate  the  new 
members  ?  What  new  din r  els  will  you  admea* 
fure  and  lay  out,  to  meet  the  occurrence  ?  Or, 
will  you,  in  that  fpiiit  of  compromise,  which 
has  aiready  {wallowed  up  iome  of  our  oefh 
rights,  give  to  particular  favored  diftrcl?  the 
choice  of  two  n  err  bers,  to  the  exciufio?*  of 
all  the  refi  r  H  ere  is  no  poflible  arrangement 
on  this  fcale,  whxhcan  be  fatistaftorv  to  the 
people  generally  ;  c  fferent  difbicU  will  con¬ 
tend  for  fuperioi  claims;  1  me  v  ill  in 'ill  oft 
it,  or  the  Icore  of  anincreafcd  white  poi; n  a¬ 
tion  :  others,  on  that  of  the  number  of  ne¬ 
oroes  ;  various  and  confessing  ocmancs  will 
be  made  for  the  incrcafed  representation.  ^  It 
will  be  a  con  tell  c  f  the  limbs  againir  the  body* 
The  evident  abfurdity  of  the  pretent  order  or 
rather  diforder  of  things,  will  apparently  afford 
fpecio  us  grounds  for  thefe  pretentions  ;  but, 
to  me  it  appears  deplorable  that  the  great 
oueOion  of  ‘  the  quantum  or  meafure  of  repre¬ 
sentation*  fhouid  ebb  and  flow  with  change** 

ble 


*9 

'Ll e  and  precarious  events  ;  that  it  (hould  be 
regulated  in  one  di  drift  by  the  increafe  of  the 
number  of  negroes,  and  in  another  by  the 
augmented  population  of  that  particular  dif- 
trift ;  as  if  no  reference  was  to  be  had  to  the 
country  as  a  flute  ;  as  if  it  were  a  government 
by  di drifts  ;  and  as  if  the  accidental  and  for¬ 
tuitous  advantages,  arifmg  from  foil  and  fitua- 
tion,  gave  an  undeniable  right  to  partial,  ex- 
clufive  and  pre-eminent  privileges.  1  cannot 
fee  any  wifdom  or  judice  in  the  policy  which 
gives  to  men  of  a  particular  territory,  becaufe 
they  inhabit  that  fpot,  greater  and  more  en¬ 
larged  political  rights  than  their  neighbours, 
who  are  members  of  the  fame  flate ,  and  equal¬ 
ly  intereded  with  themfelves  in  all  the  con¬ 
cerns  of  date  reprefentation.  When  I  am 
told  a  didrift:  has  increafed,  in  the  view  of  con- 
greflional  reprefentation,  1  appropriate  that 
increafe  to  the  date  Does  this  give  a  right 
to  a  didrict  to  rife  in  its  demands,  and  fay, 
you  mud  give  me  two  members  where  I  had 
one  before  ?  The  thing  is  abfurd,  it  is  aftually 
throwing  the  population  of  the  date  into  fepa- 
rate  clans  and  departments,  for  the  purpofe  of 
giving  to  feme  an  unjud  and  predominant  in¬ 
fluence  over  others  ;  it  is,  in  faft,  to  fay,  that 
the  intered  of  the  whole  date  (hall  be  made 
fubfervient  to  the  intered  of  fome  of  its  condi- 
tuent  parts.  If  diilrifts  were  feparate  and  in¬ 
dependent 


% 


dependent  fo*‘ror?;gnties,  there  might  be  fome 
p  a u H bi i i r y  in  rhe  argument;  but  as  integral 
parrs  of  a  Pate,  the  thing  is  prepofterous.— 
The  views  already  taken  of  the  fubjeft,  fuffi- 
cientlv  evince  this.  The  fe  Tcral  confutation, 
gives  us,  as  a  component  part  of  the  confede- 
racy,  arc!  as  one  of  the  fouthern  ftates,  a  re- 
prefentation  in  the  ratio  of  three  fifths  for  our 
negroes  ;  it  was  an  advantage  gained  for  the 
irate.  But  is  it  at  all  deducibie  from  this  pro- 
vidon,  that  this  weight  of  reprefentation  ought 
to  be  apportioned  and  thrown  into  particular 
diftricts  ?  it  is  a  benefit  intended  for  the  flats 
at  forge,  and  coniequently  ought  to  be  felt 
throughout.  1  could  enlarge  on  the  fubjed:  to 
the  extent  of  a  volume,  but  I  leave  it  to  the 
reflections  of  difoatTionate  men ;  I  difdain  to 

A  '  i 

chard  t’1  e  caprices  of  particular  opinions,  or  to 
catch  the  momentary  gale  of  popular  preju¬ 
dice  ;  I  fpeak  to  the  underftanding  and  appeal 
to  the  approving  judgment  of  the  country  ;  I 
know  that  reafon  and  argument  only,  can  open 
an  avenue  to  the  fenfe  and  confidence  of  the 
people. 

This,  therefore,  is  the  crifis,  in  which  yon 
ir  av  (heaps  from  the  dilemma,  and  filsnee  thefe 
rdn;s  i  v  the  a  p:  n  of  the  general  ticket. 
B-  ;lcft *  '.in  r  the  prefenr  arrangement,  and 
if  -  rji  row  views  w;  ;ch  prop  up  and  fupport  it, 
;-ju  ? ,  move  the  caufe  of  jarring  and  rival  in* 

terefis, 


3* 


terefts,f  and  commit,  by  one  mighty  effort, 
to  the  care  of  all,  the  intereft  of  alL  ”4  S  his 
is  the  day  of  falvation  fome  change  m  i % 
be  made ;  and  the  question  is,  which  is  the 
beft  :  Wi. ether  vou  will  throw  off  the  prefent 
form,  by  which  your  rights  are  fette^d,  and 
adopt  that  which  l  confider  a  great  jSEfidera- 
tum  in  the  politics  of  this  ft  at  e.  Politicians 


of  I  beral  minds  ought  to  look  beyond  th 
i mined  are  effect,  to  the  remote  and  fut-ur 
confequences  of  a  meafure-  To  maintain 
things  as  they  are,  in  the  face  of  that  foirit 
which  is  now  anongit  us.  when  the  tide  of 
general  lend  nen?  is  turning  fad  to  vr  ,rds  rep  ib- 
Jicmif  n,  will  be  to  force  it  back  with  exeeui ve 
and  fudden  rapidity,  and  perpetuate  the  mif- 
ch  efs  1  defire  to  avert.  I-  you  leize  not  the 
prelent  precious  moment,  yoa  mav  wait  in 
vain  ten  years  longer,  the  earning  of  another 
cenfus ;  when  that  day  arrives,  ye  ar  ears  will 
be  aiTailed  wnh  the  fame  arguments  ;  your 
long  and  fpiritlefs  acquiescence  will  be  urged 
aga  nd  you,  and  the  fame  changes  will  be 
rung  in  66  omne  v:lub  'Jis  avum”  This  is  the 


f  They  will  (land  thus, 

I)  ift  rifts.  Whites. 

Finck.  &  Wafli.  63,155 
Ninety- Six,  44,405 

Charleston.  199963 


ratio  of  Slaves.  Total. 

5  8  77  69,033.. 

7254  51,659 

37*449  574ri 

critical 


s* 

critical  feafon  ;  every  thing  is  in  unifon  ;  the 
popular  fpring  is  now  flrong  and  elafic  ;  de¬ 
lay  and  indifference  will  'effectually  break  its 
force,  and  debi-itate  its  nerve. 

If  you  ferioufiy  and  fervently  wifh  to  effect  a 
retullicm^  charge  you  will  appreciate  the  ad¬ 
vantages  x>f  a  period  propitious  to  this  end. — - 
1  his  is  the  prolific  feed-time  wh'ch  will  fwell 
to  exuberant  plenty,  the  future  harveft  of 
public  good  and  national  profperity.  I  expedl 
to  hear  the  ufual  rant  againfl  reformation  and 
improvement — We  have  heard  and  feen  it 
bandied  about  irom  the  dawn  of  the  American 
revolution,  to  this  day.  There  are  men  who 
ccnfider,  even  that ,  a  diabolical  innovation  on 
kingly  authority — Others  affief  to  feel  the 
n  oifc  exquifite  fennbility  on  the  fubjeft  or  po- 
litical  amelioration.  Of  jecls  loom  larger  to 
the  eye,  from  being  viewed  through  a  denfe 
and  ini  fly  medium.  Great  and  attainable 
good  mult  rot  be  facrificed  to  fanciful  and  idle 
chimeras  ;  their  affrighted  imaginations  have 
already  conjured  up  terrors  at  a  diftance,  in 
the  fpeclre  of  the  general  ticket,  and  arrayed 
it  in  tne  robes  of  jceohinifm  i  On  a  nearer  ap¬ 
proach,  we  find  it  republican  in  its  afpeft* 
holding  up  a  juft  equality  of  rights,  and  equal 
eongreffional  reprefentation,  and  pointing  im- 
preffively  to  the  ftrong  political  neceility  of  a 
change.  As  die  great  Bacon,  fays,  It  is  the 

reformation 


* 


i 


S3 

reformation  which  draweth  on  the  change,  and 
not  the  defire  of  change,  which  pretendeth 
the  reformation,”  Innovation  and  reform  are 
indeed  fpoken  of,  as  if  the  limit  of  human 
wifdom  had  reached  its  acme  in  its  prelent  at¬ 
tainments.  1  afk,  with  a  celebrated  republi¬ 
can,  “Is  the  molt  fublime  and  difficult  of  all 
arts,  the  improvement  of  the  focial  order,  to 
be  alone  ftationary,  amid  the  rapid  progrefs  of 
every  other  art,  liberal  and  vulgar,  to  perfec¬ 
tion  ?  Where  would  be  the  atrocious  guilt  of 
a  grand  experiment,  to  afcertain  the  portion  of 
freedom  and  happinefs,  that  can  be  created  by 
political  in^titutions.’,  .All  the  improvements 
of  human  life  are  deviations  from  our  prede- 
ceffors,  and  there  mu  ft  be  fomething  more  in 
this  dread  of  innovation,  “this  horror  at  re¬ 
medy,”  than  appears  at  fir  ft  view — I  fee  it  in 
Itrongly  marked  characters  in  thefe  words— 
the  reluSlant  fur  tender  cf  power  by  the  few  tv 
the  many.  J  hat  cannot  be  confidered  as  a  vi- 
fionary  project,  to  which  we  are  conducted  by 
the  hand  of  reafon.  No,  1  confider  their  ar¬ 
guments  as  having  no  other  clue,  and  the  op- 
pofition  no  other  aim,  than  to  preferve,  at  ail 
events,  the  prefen  t  odious  fyftem ;  and,  if 
poffible,  to  augment  its  preffure.  Is  the  prin¬ 
ciple  advocated  true  in  theory  and  falfe  in  prac¬ 
tice  ?  The  phrafe  is  more  familiar  to  our  ears, 
than  it  is  admifiible  to  our  underftandine— 

O 


/.wny  with  filch  alfurd  rrc!  Vagrant  difcn mi¬ 
rations  !  T1  is  union  of  tiu'ih  and  falfehood  in 
the  fame  dcdhine,  applied  to  the  fame  fulpjedt, 
is  irrpcflible.  I  he  idea  can  only  have  force, 
v  hen  by  f  fTurr.ption,  piadiice  is  improperly 
appl  cd  to  a  dedtrine  which  it  never  was  in¬ 
tended  to  include,  and  afiociated  with  a  theory, 
to  which  is  docs  not  belong.  Whatever  theo¬ 
ry  pronounces  to  be  true,  mu  ft  be  practicable* 
When,  therefore,  a  propefition  be  true  in  theo¬ 
ry,  it  muft,  if  made  up  of  the  fame  ideas  and 
objects,  be  equally  true  in  practice,  where  that 
practice  is  ccrrefpendent  to  the  theory.  I  do 
not  think  it  proper  in  thefe  fort  of  difeuflions 
to  refort  to  metaphyhes  ;  but  it  is  fometimes 
r-ecefTary  to  convince  men,  that  though  they 
imagine  themfelves  entrenched  behind  maxims, 
they  are  in  faff,  nothing  more  than  fallacious 
and  untenable  portions.  It  requires  no  very 
proiour  d  refearcly  to  detect  error  of  this  kind* 
’1  lie  truths  wl  ch  regulate  our  pr  liticai  rela¬ 
tions.  are  few  and  fimule,  and  are  at  no 
great  diitance  from  the  furiace/’ 

Characters  will  fometimes  arife,  who  foarj 
irg  above  the  level  of  mankind  in  the  regions 
c t  fenfe  and  knowledge,  refu  e  ;m  a  govern¬ 
ment  pretending  to  be  free)  t  ie  participation 
of  equal  rights  to  the  people,  on  the  ground  of 
their  uant  cf  irjorn.ainn .  ^ key  art  too  igno¬ 
rant*  jay  ihey>  to  be  traru/ied  with  fucb  high 

powers  / 


3  S 

fevers  f  T  Took  for  fuch  obfervations  from 
men  of  felhfh  hearts  and  muddy  underft -lad¬ 
ings  ;  but,  that  perions  of  decency  and  fenfe 
fh  uid  urge  them,  furprifes  me ;  an  1  whe  i  I 
am  turt  ler  to. a,  that  tnen  of  fcience  and  emi« 
rent  It  n  ing  (late  it  as  an  objection,  I  am  co  n¬ 
founded.  £re  gentlemen  aware  rhat  fuch  in* 
fr  uations  flrike  at  the  very  comparand  foun¬ 
dation  of  fociery  ?  This  i,  a  new  mode  of 
tnea'uring  out  rights,  bythee<"entof  a  mards 
intel.eft  and  capacity.  I  quefiion  very  much 
its  operation,  even  with  thofe  who  pretend  to 
be  plus  [age  que  le  /ages”  I  believe,  as  far 
as  my  observation  extends,  that  the  people  of 
this  (late  are  remarkably  well  informed  on  po¬ 
litical  queftions,  and  1  can  venture  to  fay, 
th'J  their  knowltdge  will  enlarge  with  the  in~ 
c*ea!e  of  their  rights.  It  they  are  fo  miferabiy 
ignorant  as  to  be  deemed  unfit  to  be  trufied 
vmh  the  management  of  their  own  concerns, 
they  certainly  are  under  great  obligado  is  to 
their  kind  rulers  lor  h  iving,  no  w  and  then, 
enlightened  their  benighted  minds,  rio.v  do 
they  manage  their  hate  affairs  ?  1  o  me  there  ap¬ 
pears  to  be  a  pretty  equal  divifion  of  ability 
and  talents  for  bulinels,  difperfed  throughout 
the  country,  and  carried  into  the  legiil  « ure* 
Ihe  fame  men  who  ftruggie  for  exdujjve  pri¬ 
vileges,  alpire  by  correlative  pretentions,  to  a 
monopoly  of  all  tne  knowledge  of  the  (late* 

©  rl  hofe 


s® 

Thofe  who  claim  fuch  high  inteiledcal  endow¬ 
ments,  ought,  at  leaft  in  their  politics,  to  be 
more  moderate  ;  in  their  political  views,  more 
juft  ;  in  their  condud,  lefs  difpofed  to  violate 
and  impair  the  liberties  of  a  free  and  indepen¬ 
dent  people.  To  their  confederation  I  refer 
the  topic,  and  forbear  to  put  forth  my  ftrength 
upon  it. 

A  mind  difpofed  to  abandon  the  illufion  of 
fpeculation  for  pradical  good,  will  find  abun¬ 
dant  caufe  to  rejoice  in  the  profped  of  our  fe¬ 
deral  arrangements,  which  are  now  juft  break¬ 
ing  on  the  view.  From  the  wile  meafures  of 
the  prefcnt  adminift ration,  within  the  fhort 
ipace  cf  a  few  months,  you  have  already  feen 
an  immeni’e  redudion  of  public  expenditure 
So  the  amount  of  many  thoufand*,  and  the 
ground  work  laid  for  infinitely  more  in  the 
revenue  department.  You  have  feen  the  re¬ 
duction  of  ufeiefs  foreign  embaflies,  and  many 
nielli  1  changes  of  men  in  office,  though  ex¬ 
it  finely  moderate  in  the  extent,  inftead  of 
it  ibute  to  the  Earbary  powers,  you  have 
Fen  apart  of  our  navy  adually  employed  in 
cer.fnirg  thefe  pirates  to  their  harbours,  pro- 
tedirg  ciefencelefs  citizens  from  galling  capti¬ 
vity,  convoying  our  merchant  ffiips,  and  giv¬ 
ing  un  reft  rained  fcope  to  cur  vigorous  and  en¬ 
ter  priilng  commerce.  T his  is  better  than  pay¬ 
ing  millions  for  tribute  to  their  voracious 

mandsj 


37 

mands,  and  fufermg  our  frigates  to  rot  In  the 
dock-yards.  If  money  mull  be  expended,  it 
is  better  that  :t  fhould  be  done  in  keeping  up  a 
fma!l  naval  armament  on  the  defenfive ,  and 
fome  portion  of  the  dollars  to  go  into  the  poCo 
kcts  of  our  odicers  an  i  failors,  than  the 
whole  into  their  infidel  coffers. 

You  have  beheld  thefe,  and  many  other  va« 
luable  reforms  refulting  from  a  new  adminiftra- 
tion,  recently  brought  into  being,  and  as  yet 
in  its  cradle ;  what  may  you  not  exo;£t  from 
its  wifdom,  when  time  (hall  enlarge  its  growth, 
ripen  its  ftrength,  and  perfect  its  manhood  ? 
"Without  the  gift  of  preference,  I  fee  in  per  * 
fpe&ive  before  mi ,  in  its  firft  movements,  the 
certain  reduSiion  of  the  eight  per  cpnt%  loan9 
and  the  complete  abolition  of  your  internal  re¬ 
venue,  the  damp  law,  the  excife  la  v,  and 
various  others  which  (land  fo  p  o.oh  ent  in  the 
federal  calendar  of  domeftic  tax  i  ion.  Great 
and  beneficial  as  thefe  will  prove,  t  ,ev  vill  be 
but  the  fore-runners  of  a  fylte  u  calcu  aied  to 
carry  us  back  to  true  conftitudo  lal  pri.ici  res, 
and  to  cut  off  thofe  morbid  execref  :e  ices 
which  had  been  futFered  to  gro  w  and  faden 
upon  the  government.  I  look  for  a  regene¬ 
rated  and  happy  order  of  things.  Does  ‘ucra 
an  adminiflratibn  invite  and  require  your  fuo- 
port.  and  co-operation  ?  Is  this,  or  is  it  not  the 
time  to  contend  tor  principles  ?  Or  are  you 

content 


corVent  be  fderrh  carried  down  the  Orea*n 
again,  to  that  direful  (late  of  things  from 
from  wr.ich  we  hai  efcaped  r  i  ave  you  not 
hoarded  vp  your  reprblxan  energies  for  the 
preftnt  crifis  or  wifi  you  blunt  the  fpi  rs  of 
yubiic  fpirit  ard  action,  by  a  ‘ame  and  unavail¬ 
able  procrastination?  Thefe  are  awful  quef. 
t.ors  to  a  p  op'e5  and  they  wiil  be  beft  an- 
iwered  by  y  our  conduct  in  the  ietdement  of 
the  federal  rcprefentaJ!on,  It  is  in  truth  an 
err  a  in  which  tie  interefr  cf  polterity,  as  well 
as  our  own,  are  deep'y  at  ftake,  and  depend 
ebeiuLi  y  cn  the  prelent  iucicious  eftimat  >  f 
cur  rights,  h  he  man  w  ho  has  e  caped  the  hor 
rors  ol  a  prec’p  ce,  or  the  fury  of  a  umpeft, 
wiil  often  leu  k  buck  with  fearful  folicitude  to 
t  e  earners  or  tne  feene.  When  you  retrace 

*  J 

your  recent  hiftcrv  as  a  people;  wrhen 
yr'u  firvey  wi  h  me’ancholy  emetions  the 
iwuggh  svou  t  ave  endured,  and  ihe  dithcul- 
tics  Kii  have  encountered,  to  gain  what  has 
cj  iate  t  t  '■  (  U 1 'itveri  ;  the  mingled  inou.ee- 
r  ems  ci  gratitude  and  patrioiifn,  will  pie- 
fide  <  vci  i?  shite  and  cl  ard  its  preh  rvaiion. 

']  hi  s  fehow-ci’izens,  ha\e  \  endeavored 


haftky  to  fketch  out  my  propofed  invekigatiorj 
of  toe  f u b j l hi —  i m perl c  ft ! y  indceo — havi-a* 
li: be  leifure  rb  devote,  and  lefs  ability  t-;  ei.l  it 
rath  cai  fe  i  conlider  thefe  papers  as  mere- 
tenant  of  grounds  and  an  exhibition  of 

principles* 


f  i;  "a  s  t  •; 

5  w  4-UiA 


99 

principles,  furn’fhing  materials  as  well  for  re« 
fie '  ion,  as  to  kindle  in  fome  repuolican  br  aft, 
the  flame  of  a  refiftlefs  eloquence.  I  pro'ef? 
to  be  anxious  for  the  event.  Animated  w  i  1 
a  lenfe  of  your  virtuous  exertions,  to  you, 
fellow-cit  zens  1  commit  tie  fibje.t  ;  for  [ 
kno  v,  ‘  that  if  ye  do  thefe  things  ve  fliall 
live.”  1  (hall  indeea  rejoice  at  it >  a  i)ption; 
or,  if  a  fpirk  fhould  ariie  in  Carolina,  of  fuf- 
ficient  f  rce  and  power  not  only  to  frraig  e, 
but  after  a  ards  to  tramp’e  on  the  defi  es  and 
claims  of  the  people — in  mufing  over  the  m;f- 
fortunes  of  my  country,  1  fhail  fee!  n  )  regret 
in  having  given  thefe  fentiments  to  the  wo  i i9 

Cairo. 


\ 


